Unemployed Graduate 100k dilemma; share your life experience

Just to put the London issue to bed as it seems that lots of people have commented about this, if it wasn't a case of losing the fight to pay 50% of my salary to live in a room then I would have taken the job. Maybe I wasn't sufficiently active in the hunt but when I was looking I had a deadline and it was the busiest time of year, I was looking from 8am-8pm every day for 3 weeks, I spent 4 hours each day on library computers looking at adverts as they were posted online, I did't know anyone who lives there, prices ranged from 450-1200pcm for a room, the lower the price the more interest, my budget was 900 max, I was contacting people as soon as adverts went up, viewing some places hours after they were posted, I went to house interviews where I was queuing with other potential flatmates, the biggest hindrance was my age as thirty somethings want people their own age and student shares don't want professionals as it means council tax exemption is lost, one advertiser who posted a room for 500pcm told me when I went to view it that he had to take the advert down as he had 40 replies within the hour of it going live, I was staying in backpacker hostels as by the end of the day I would end up in completely different districts, camden, greenwich, stratford etc. as well as having many tourist backpackers, these hostels were also populated by working professionals living out of a suitcase, as was getting prepared and checking out in the morning so were people in shirt and tie with oyster card and laptop under arm, it was exhausting and when the deadline rolled around I had to say that I had been unable to relocate

Thank you, for those saying travel is a good move, I am aware that for some people it is beneficial but it is a gamble, it is a risk. I also have an aversion to it which I will detail below if anyone is interested. I've been in a pressure cooker since age 14/15 in the education system, first GCSE coursework was at this age and final GCSEs were at 16, it was clear from the onset that these were very important and meant a lot in the future, then it was the same attitude but increased intensity through A-levels, and due to the nature of my degree I had coursework from day one with a final year that saw 9-6pm mon to fri minimum hours just to get my lab work, projects, coursework in, then final exams at the end of it, and then to come out at the end of it into an international jobs market. Nowadays there seems to be more of a dialogue that this is unhealthy and such pressure in school is not great, maybe if you shout loud enough some kids will hear you when you say 'exams aren't everything' but at my comprehensive nobody ever said this, the school ofsted depends on achievement so the atmosphere is to achieve.

Broadly speaking, getting a good job after graduation requires fighting for summer placements in the summer holidays after first and second years. I made the mistake of doing my own thing and making some money, which did involve travelling at some leisure to source items. The idea of travelling now would compound that mistake, I can only view it as taking it easy which means I am losing time and opportunities. I am a product of my environment, I am driven, the pressure stays on to push you, I can't just switch it off, of course this is unhealthy, of course this isn't good for me, of course it isn't enjoyable. Whilst the drive to succeed is baked in I am fully aware that rationally thinking, taking the advice of an older self with wisdom, I should act to ease it and taking time off to travel is even more important, that carrying on would be shooting myself in the foot before I start the marathon race, but this neglects everything I have just described.

Currently, my H2B ISA is maxed, my 2017/18 ISA has 4k outstanding in case I want to open a LISA:

Here is my thinking, I feel like I should be exposed to the UK property market as I envisage spending the majority of my life here. If home ownership continues to fall at any level, and house building remains far below demand whilst population increases it is a reasonable bet that house prices will rise modestly. This as earnings have fallen and debt has risen against the backdrop of higher rent and valuations. Just for example, using 5x earnings as metric for mortgage, ave house 250k, salary needed is 50k, currently if I achieve charted status through professional body and have 8+ years experience I might hope to have 40-50k depending on responsibility. So if house prices remained stagnant for the next 8 years and I have a deposit I could get a mortgage for average house. (This is assuming a lot, like interest rates remaining low etc. and ignoring a multitude of issues over Brexit and how future immigration may affect all aspects of job and housing markets)

I have nothing to inherit and no family bank of mum and dad, but right now I have a sizeable chunk of capital I can put down. In an environment of record low interest rates, owning any property in an area that isn't in decline looks to be a good move. If I was employed I could get a mortgage or if I choose my area carefully, I can get a buy to let on something under 150k. This would likely be a long term hold, not a short bet to gain on it's value rise.

Some people have said yes and no regarding investing in a house in my circumstances. I understand the risks of the investment (unexpected costs, tenants, defaulting, interest rate rise etc.) but if people would care to comment on the particular pros/cons of this given my circumstances and the fact it would be the largest chuck of my portfolio (potentially anything up to 70%), significantly reducing potential liquidity

Thank you all you lovely people, I appreciate every comment

I have never heard of someone going travelling to find an employer, unless you're talking about Norman Tebbit's father. Everything is online, so going in person to find an employer outside the EU and getting a work VISA is advantageous how? Especially as there has been significant rise in exploitation of travelling workers who depend on employer sign off for visas in countries like AUS / NZ

Exposure to property would bring income

if I choose my area carefully, I can get a buy to let on something under 150k. This would likely be a long term hold, not a short bet to gain on it's value rise.